Writers Block, Carb Blocks, and all Kinds of Blocks

I have to admit it I have had motivation difficulties writing this post today, mostly because I’m not feeling at the top of my physical game.  It’s Day 7, we are officially ¼ through our challenge, and we successfully completed an entire week of eating clean in appropriate portions.  But I’ll be honest, I was hoping I would feel better today.  My intestines have organized a coup against their governing body.  Certainly it’s a challenge to discuss without risking all of you hovering over your computers screaming, “TMI!!!!”  I will spare you the details here, but just like all the elderly patients I’ve ever cared for, if the constitution ain’t right, ain’t nothing right. Even though I’m sharing my challenge with all of you, I don’t enjoy sharing it with my own personal food baby.   I hope that this too shall pass, and by tomorrow I will be back to my optimistic self. 

Sunday, (Day 7!) is the perfect opportunity to re-cap the week.  As I scrolled through all of your comments, I became re-energized and encouraged by all of your positive words.  I’m so happy that I’ve been able help to keep you all focused, and at the same time maintain my own focus as well.  Since I’ve already mentioned my symptoms, I’ll talk about some of the ones you guys have mentioned.  Brianna wrote that she hadn’t had a migraine since she started the challenge.   One of the first omissions I made from my diet about 2 years ago was artificial sweeteners, of any kind.  Until then, I would get frequent headaches as well.  Almost immediately, when I eliminated the sweeteners I felt better.  When I fell off my paleo wagon over the past few months, I would cheat with the grains and cheese, but I still avoided the artificial sweeteners.  Those chemicals wreak havoc on your cells, and you truly cannot appreciate how much better you feel until you no longer ingest them.  Troyce wrote that her eczema and dry patches cleared up.  Again, your skin is the largest organ system in your body.  It makes sense that this organ system would be affected by your diet.  The inflammatory response from dairy and grains takes place throughout your body, but is most visible in your skin.  Many of you are experiencing a burst of acne, but, as my Mom always said, “That’s just your meanness coming out.” It could be your “meanness,” but it is also your toxins.  They are escaping from your fat cell stores and headed south via your skin.  Your skin, like everything else, is transitioning.  By week 3, we will all be basking in our own healthy skin glow!

Shana said that her energy level has improved, even though her coffee ingestion has decreased.  That’s because you are putting a higher grade fuel into your body.  Previously, you probably became fatigued when your labile blood sugar levels would crash. After a few days of eating clean, balanced-carb meals, your blood sugars stabilized a great deal, eliminating those crash/fatigue episodes.  And Fred (I can call her out because this isn’t her real name) said she was ready to pop Senna and Colace like tic-tacs.  As I mentioned above, it’s hard to imagine that with lbs of vegetables and 7+ liters of water per day, this would even be an issue.  However, after a little bit of research, I’ve found out that constipation and the initiation of a strict paleo diet is common.  The main reason seems to be that the lining of your gut is going through its own healing from inflammation that came about from years of gluten and dairy abuse.  As it heals, it becomes a much more efficient machine.  It’s important to keep your fat intake regular with your meals. Don’t skimp on this, eat your required blocks of healthy fat with every meal.  Avocado, olives, nuts, olive and coconut oils are healthy choices.  And, I guess I’ll be ordering my Whole 30 Fish Oil as soon as I post this.  If this has been your problem, my suggestion is to wait it out and you will soon be doing the “potty dance” of a 2 year old.

Variety and volume seem to be another topic of concern.  At the end of day 7, I am just discovering the meals to eat when I’m hungry, and the better choices to eat when I’m not.  Wild Salmon and other fish have more weight per block.  So, if I’m really hungry I’m going for the grilled salmon over the chicken.  Have you all noticed that you become ridiculously anal with the meat scale?  I evaluate my 2 ounces, then re-evaluate it. I pick out any piece of fat, because I don’t want it contributing to my precious 2 ounces.    Does anyone wonder, “Is this a light 2 ounces or a heavy 2 ounces?  Can I Add. Just. A. Little. More? Dang, 2.1 ounces, time to remove that last bit.” Find the vegetables that are filling, and those that aren’t.  Geoff, I wouldn’t recommend the volume of raw vegetables in your 4-5 block meal when you run the risk of being stuck in your patrol car, especially if another officer shares the car with you.  Grilled eggplant is a filling, normal volume cooked carbohydrate block, along with my personal favorite, Spaghetti Squash.  High volume veggies are broccoli, cauliflower, green beans.  When you’re really forcing the meal, go for artichoke hearts.  2 small ones make a carb block.  The same goes for fruit.  1 ¼ c raspberries packs the same punch, with more fiber and a lower glycemic index, than a small cutie orange or the sugar of a banana.  Rebecca and Shana both expressed concern about variety.  Buy seasonings, and use them.  Divide your blocks in half, and mix it up.  My meals taste so much better when there are several things mixed together, instead of only 3 items. 

Take your trials and errors from last week, and use them to enjoy a smarter, more efficient Week 2.  By this time next week, we will be halfway through, feeling and seeing the benefits.  Now, get back in your kitchens and prep!

** If you have been reading this every day, click on the "subscribe" button on the right, and add your email address.  You will be notified when a new post appears, and also when someone makes a comment.  Don't miss anything we're talking about!